A drink-driver who caused the death of a parish councillor in a car crash has today been jailed for four years.

Liam Davis was almost twice the legal alcohol limit when he lost control of his car and veered into the path of long-serving Brenchley and Matfield councillor Ronald Berry.

A judge told the 27-year-old bar manager: "Quite simply, you were affected by the alcohol you had taken. You drove carelessly no doubt because your judgement was impaired by the alcohol you had consumed."

Motorist Liam Davis has been jailed over the death of a parish councillor. Picture: Martin Apps

Davis, of Cleavesland, Laddingford, Maidstone, denied causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit, but was convicted on March 20.

The jury of six men and six women took more than 13 hours to reach a 10-2 majority verdict.

Davis was banned from driving for four years and will have to take an extended test before his licence is returned.

Maidstone Crown Court heard businessman Mr Berry, 73, died after his Peugeot 406 was in a head-on collision with Davis's Land Rover Freelander.

They were travelling in opposite directions on a bend in Queen Street, in Paddock Wood, on December 3 2012.

Widower Mr Berry, who owned Burnbright Fuels in Lucks Lane, was heading towards Brenchley. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

Both cars ended up in ditches. Paramedics were at first unable to release the victim from his car. He died at the scene from multiple injuries.

Davis, who claimed Mr Berry was on the wrong side of the road, told police he had two pints of beer at The Star pub in nearby Matfield, but he revealed at his trial that he had also been drinking at a pub in Brenchley.